Working with organizations empowered by the natural and built environment to help advance their mission-driven goals and objectives.
As a caretaker and tour guide of an historic home in Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River, we’re often reminded about where famous Philadelphians were born, lived and made history. In the colonial period of Philadelphia, a majority of these events would likely have happened along the Delaware River in what is now called Old … More Laurel Hill Cemetery
It was a cold December day on my visit to Cliveden in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, but that did not stop my visit to one of many fine properties in Historic Germantown. If you have not visited historic Germantown, i highly recommend checking out the organization that helps oversee the collection of properties under the … More Cliveden House – Philadelphia
In mid-November I spent a long weekend in Chattanooga, TN visiting a good high school friend who recently purchased a house. It was my first time visiting the state of Tennessee, and growing up as a Yankee, I didn’t really have a sense of the state’s identity. I knew about the historic TVA authority, that VW … More Chattanooga, TN Landscapes
I had the pleasure of visiting Wave Hill in late May on a warm Saturday by way of Megabus, Metro-North Hudson Line, and some urban hiking. Located in the Hudson River Highlands in Riverdale, Bronx in New York City, the property overlooks the commanding Hudson River and the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Views are an important feature … More Wave Hill
**updated 6/2017 In 1934, an elevated rail line was opened on the West Side of Manhattan as an efficient way to transport goods from the industrial center today enjoyed my many as West Chelsea. But as we saw emerge post-war through a series of national transportation initiatives, the automobile was king in America. A grand … More The Highline NYC
My first time exploring the city of San Francisco was a few years ago with a bunch of architecture librarians, and now this time I had my eye on San Francisco Botanic Garden. Lucky for me it was a sunny and cool spring morning that day, creating perfect conditions for observing how the garden is … More San Francisco Botanic Garden
Muir Woods is a very special NPS property for its ecological and cultural significance, and I was so happy to be able to visit this site for my self on a beautiful March day. Its perpetual protection dates back to January 9, 1908, when President Theodore Roosevelt and land owner William Kent together established Muir Woods … More Muir Woods, CA
Another stop on the great 2016 California trip was Hanoke Gardens in Saratoga Springs. Hanoke is a classic Japanese style garden, an outward expression of many far east ideals coming out of Japan beginning with the emergence of Buddhism in AD 538. In short, these spaces seek harmony in the natural landscape and highlight natural materials … More Hanoke Gardens, CA
During my California trip I spent a day at the Huntington, a collections-based educational and research institution in Southern California. What I like about this institution is its equal parity with living and non-living collections. In this case the “living” is a great assortment of plants assembled into a botanic garden, and the “non-living” consists … More The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
Another stop on my California trip was Descanso Gardens, located northwest of Pasadena in greater Los Angeles. I was drawn to this property for the historical and cultural significance of the landscape over time, especially with the Native American people and Spanish colonization. In the botanic garden world, most east coast institution’s narratives begin sometime between … More Descanso Gardens, CA
Joshua Meyer 